Prost supports Hamilton during Ferrari's difficulties.

      "Everyone is aware of it, everyone writes about it."

      F1 legend Alain Prost asserts that Lewis Hamilton is still as quick and skilled as ever, despite having a challenging start with Ferrari. Hamilton, 40, acknowledged before the summer break that he felt "useless," but he has shown better pace and an improved mood since his return. At Monza, he overcame a grid penalty to finish sixth after starting from tenth.

      "I'm very pleased with the progress we're making," stated the seven-time champion. "I’m gradually getting a better understanding of this car. I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel completely comfortable in it, but I hope that next year’s car will let me contribute more."

      Team principal Frederic Vasseur remarked to Sky Italia that he observed clear signs of improvement. "He bounced back," Vasseur noted. "It was a very good race, and I’m really happy for him, as he faced difficulties in July and is now back to his pace. He had a good weekend, was in great spirits, and had a positive approach, which I believe will help."

      Four-time world champion Prost, writing for L'Equipe, also defended Hamilton. "Winning with Ferrari is better than anywhere else. But when you don’t win, it’s worse than with any other team," he stated. "Everyone knows this, everyone writes about it, but in reality, it’s different. However, I firmly believe that Lewis Hamilton’s talent has not diminished or, even worse, gone off track."

      Vasseur also mentioned that Ferrari's overall performance at Monza was commendable. "Max was unbeatable, but we weren't too far behind McLaren," said the Frenchman. However, Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth and missed the iconic podium with the Tifosi, expressed his disappointment. "I tried to keep up with cars that had more power, but doing that caused the temperatures to rise significantly, and I needed to conserve the rear tires for ten laps," he explained. "That cost us. I wished to achieve more for the fans during such a special weekend."

      When asked about Red Bull and McLaren leading the way, Leclerc admitted, "It’s frustrating. We have been waiting for our moment for some time. We hope to have the opportunity to consistently fight for victories soon, but right now it’s not possible - we don’t have the car."